You could expect coaches to be lazy. They are too busy to be bothered by actually researching teams other than their own or their opponents, so Tennessee Football coming in No. 15 in the Coaches Poll was always indicative of that fact.
However, the Vols are now No. 15 in the AP Poll, released Monday, as well. That means that writers are equally as unaware of their lack of logic applied to Rocky Top as coaches are, which keeps UT as a whole flying drastically under the radar.
Let’s revisit what we said about the Coaches Poll ranking. Tennessee Football finished No. 17 at the end of last year after a 9-4 season. The world believed they didn’t have the right quarterback in Joe Milton III, and they had a rash of injuries.
Somehow, with a quarterback everybody believes in, everybody healthy, tons of starters back and upgrades at the spot with the most departures, the belief was they’re only two spots better at No. 15? Now, that lack of logic applies to AP writers.
UT also finished No. 17 in the AP Poll last year. None of this makes sense. How can you think a team that will have a massive upgrade at quarterback, is more experienced and is much more healthy will only be worth a two-spot leap in any ranking. That logic doesn’t pan out.
The simple fact is the Vols’ ranking is one of default. There’s not enough insight into them from national media, and people aren’t paying attention to the inconsistencies in what they’ve said about the program compared to where they’re projecting the program.
Overall, there are hardly any differences between the two polls this year. Tennessee Football still plays four ranked opponents in the Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners on the road, the Alabama Crimson Tide at home and the N.C. State Wolfpack at a neutral site.
Georgia, Alabama and OU are No. 1, No. 5 and No. 16 respectively in both polls. After coming in at No. 24 in the Coaches Poll, however, they were No. 22 in the AP Poll. While reordered in certain ways, the same top 25 teams are in both polls.
